runr4eva
04-16-2005, 01:22 PM
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/04/14/e1.sp.marnie.0414.html
Mason leaving UO for prep job
By Ron Bellamy
The Register-Guard
Marnie Mason, who coaches the women's distance runners at the University of Oregon, is resigning at the end of the season to return to the high school ranks.
Mason said Wednesday that she has accepted a job as a special education teacher at North Medford High School, where she taught for two years before becoming an assistant track and field coach and the head women's cross country coach at Oregon in the fall of 2003.
"I miss teaching," Mason said. "I miss being in the classroom."
North Medford's head track coach, Mark Hodges, is leaving to take a football coaching position in Nevada, and Mason said she intends to apply for the track position.
"I missed the daily contact with kids," Mason said. "I don't think you have that as much at the Division I level. I feel I have more of a positive impact on kids who are in the stage of developing their work ethic and attitude and long-term goals.
"I really enjoy that aspect of that age."
Mason was the first women's distance coach hired when Oregon combined its men's and women's track programs under the direction of former coach Martin Smith, who reached a resignation settlement with the university last month. She was the only female member of Smith's coaching staff.
Mason made it clear last month that she believed Smith's resignation to be necessary for the Oregon program, saying then: "We have everybody on the bus that we need to make it go. I just think we need a new bus driver."
However, she has declined further comment on her experience of working for Smith, and did so again Wednesday.
"Obviously, that was a factor in my decision, the situation with everything," she said. "I'd be lying to you if I said differently. ... It's time to move forward and look to positive things, and coach the athletes we have now through Pac-10s, regionals and nationals.
"They're moving on, and it hasn't been an issue, and the kids have really come together."
Mason added of her experience coaching at Oregon: "It wasn't the dream job that I thought it would be. It was a great experience, and one that I think will help me become a better person and coach down the road."
Mason said she believes Oregon athletics director Bill Moos will "hire the best candidate in the country" to lead the Oregon track and field program, and that she believes the future of both the men's and women's teams will be strong.
"I'm excited about it," she said. "I just think there's no stopping anything now. It's full-force ahead. In the men's program, they are strong in all of the events now, and in the women's program" - especially with the prospect that the NCAA will add two more women's scholarships, raising the total to 20 - "you're going to get those blue-chip athletes and the kids who want to walk on and be part of Oregon.
"It's a mecca for track and field, and it's just a big draw."
However, Mason said she decided to return to the prep ranks regardless of Oregon's choice of a successor for Smith.
"I know I was happy teaching," she said. "Obviously, this hasn't been the most positive of experiences, but long-term and looking at a personal and professional decision, I want to get back to teaching."
Mason said she told her distance runners of her decision Tuesday.
"One of the biggest things that is a regret to me is leaving the current kids that I have, and the kids that I coached in high school, and the kids that I've recruited in," she said. "You develop a close relationship with your athletes. That's going to be the toughest thing to leave behind.
"In sitting down and visiting with the kids, I reiterated to do what's right. Don't settle for anything but the best. I told them that whoever comes in will be that person. That's where Oregon is heading."
Mason was a standout runner at Klamath Union High School, and as a senior in 1985 won the Class 4A state title in the 3,000 meters. She competed at BYU for three years before graduating from Southern Oregon. She rose to coaching prominence as assistant track coach and head cross country coach at Klamath Union from 1998 through 2001, coaching six 4A state individual champions and the 1999 state championship boys cross country team.
Something's going on over at Oregon ... First Martin Smith leaves, now Marnie Mason? Any thoughts on this?
Mason leaving UO for prep job
By Ron Bellamy
The Register-Guard
Marnie Mason, who coaches the women's distance runners at the University of Oregon, is resigning at the end of the season to return to the high school ranks.
Mason said Wednesday that she has accepted a job as a special education teacher at North Medford High School, where she taught for two years before becoming an assistant track and field coach and the head women's cross country coach at Oregon in the fall of 2003.
"I miss teaching," Mason said. "I miss being in the classroom."
North Medford's head track coach, Mark Hodges, is leaving to take a football coaching position in Nevada, and Mason said she intends to apply for the track position.
"I missed the daily contact with kids," Mason said. "I don't think you have that as much at the Division I level. I feel I have more of a positive impact on kids who are in the stage of developing their work ethic and attitude and long-term goals.
"I really enjoy that aspect of that age."
Mason was the first women's distance coach hired when Oregon combined its men's and women's track programs under the direction of former coach Martin Smith, who reached a resignation settlement with the university last month. She was the only female member of Smith's coaching staff.
Mason made it clear last month that she believed Smith's resignation to be necessary for the Oregon program, saying then: "We have everybody on the bus that we need to make it go. I just think we need a new bus driver."
However, she has declined further comment on her experience of working for Smith, and did so again Wednesday.
"Obviously, that was a factor in my decision, the situation with everything," she said. "I'd be lying to you if I said differently. ... It's time to move forward and look to positive things, and coach the athletes we have now through Pac-10s, regionals and nationals.
"They're moving on, and it hasn't been an issue, and the kids have really come together."
Mason added of her experience coaching at Oregon: "It wasn't the dream job that I thought it would be. It was a great experience, and one that I think will help me become a better person and coach down the road."
Mason said she believes Oregon athletics director Bill Moos will "hire the best candidate in the country" to lead the Oregon track and field program, and that she believes the future of both the men's and women's teams will be strong.
"I'm excited about it," she said. "I just think there's no stopping anything now. It's full-force ahead. In the men's program, they are strong in all of the events now, and in the women's program" - especially with the prospect that the NCAA will add two more women's scholarships, raising the total to 20 - "you're going to get those blue-chip athletes and the kids who want to walk on and be part of Oregon.
"It's a mecca for track and field, and it's just a big draw."
However, Mason said she decided to return to the prep ranks regardless of Oregon's choice of a successor for Smith.
"I know I was happy teaching," she said. "Obviously, this hasn't been the most positive of experiences, but long-term and looking at a personal and professional decision, I want to get back to teaching."
Mason said she told her distance runners of her decision Tuesday.
"One of the biggest things that is a regret to me is leaving the current kids that I have, and the kids that I coached in high school, and the kids that I've recruited in," she said. "You develop a close relationship with your athletes. That's going to be the toughest thing to leave behind.
"In sitting down and visiting with the kids, I reiterated to do what's right. Don't settle for anything but the best. I told them that whoever comes in will be that person. That's where Oregon is heading."
Mason was a standout runner at Klamath Union High School, and as a senior in 1985 won the Class 4A state title in the 3,000 meters. She competed at BYU for three years before graduating from Southern Oregon. She rose to coaching prominence as assistant track coach and head cross country coach at Klamath Union from 1998 through 2001, coaching six 4A state individual champions and the 1999 state championship boys cross country team.
Something's going on over at Oregon ... First Martin Smith leaves, now Marnie Mason? Any thoughts on this?